Sara Valério
COUNTRY: Azores, Portugal
VOLUNTEERING PERIOD: June to October 2023
4 MONTHS
Sara Valério from São Miguel – Azores, Portugal is qualified psychologist with a background in family planning and reproductive and sexual education, she brought expertise, warmth, and passion to support women and children in the Sambhali Trust. We will miss her!
How did you find out about the Sambhali Trust?
An influencer from Portugal that I follow on Instagram posted about volunteering in Sambhali Trust four or five years ago. I started looking online to research more about the company and found the mission aligned with a lot of my core values.
What topics did you focus on during your time here?
For the workshops, I used similar themes to the work I had done in Portugal, but I adapted it to reflect the cultural differences in India. For kids, I tried to focus on responding to things they needed - looking at topics like hygiene, emotions and (my passion project) gender roles. For the women, I wanted to balance giving important information with the need to be respectful of cultural norms - so I focused on healthy relationships, self-esteem and self-care, menstruation, and intimate care.
What’s been a highlight from your visit?
I gave a workshop about menstruation to some of the women in Sambhali Trust and felt like they were able to ask a lot of questions that they hadn’t been able to before. This made me feel like I’d been helpful and given some practical advice. I remember coming back to the guesthouse that day and feeling really pleased about what I’d done.
Another highlight is the weekend I spent with the teachers and office staff in Ghanerao. There’s a jungle and a lake, and a lot of nature - it was really fun seeing the teachers outside of work, having fun with the staff and being friends with each other. I remember thinking I will remember this for the rest of my life.
Looking back, what do you feel you have accomplished over your volunteering experience? How have you grown?
I feel proud - I set out to come here for four months, and feel as if I’ve completed everything I set out to do. I’ve learnt that I can adapt to different and unknown situations, and that (though it might not always be easy and may take a bit of effort) I can move to another country and work there.
What advice would you give to anyone coming out here?
Be open-minded, and respect that there will be big cultural differences. You can read about it, but once you get here it is like a slap of reality in the face - so adapt, be flexible and be patient.
How did you see the Sambhali Trust making a difference within the community it serves?
Rajasthan has been the worst state in India to live as a woman for two years (more information here) and so Sambhali Trust has done a great job to try and improve the lives of women and children, and overcome a huge amount of challenges in the past 16 years. They are really making a difference in their lifes!
Do you have any plans or hopes to continue supporting the Sambhali Trust in the future?
When I go back to Portugal, I have been asked by my previous boss to present on my experience. I also want to try and get more volunteers from Portugal and help to raise awareness of Sambhali Trust in Portugal.